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Ozarks Food Harvest exceeds annual distribution goal

Ozarks Food Harvest exceeds annual distribution goal

July 6, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest surpassed the 16 million pound mark in food distribution, exceeding last year’s distribution record by over one million pounds.

The Food Bank hit its distribution record of 16.4 million pounds, the equivalent of 13.6 million meals, during its last fiscal year, which ended June 30. That’s more than one truckload of food distributed across the Ozarks every day of the year.

Ozarks Food Harvest now serves more people than ever, reaching over 260,000 unduplicated children, families and seniors through its 200 member agencies and programs. The number of clients seeking food assistance in the Ozarks has increased by 69 percent since 2009, with children making up thirty percent of those served.

“We know that each meal provided to a hungry child, underemployed adult or disabled senior means more to them than we will ever know,” says Bart Brown, CEO/President of Ozarks Food Harvest. “Behind each meal served, there is a story. And that’s what keeps us pushing to continually increase our distribution.”

The Food Bank has also increased its distributions of fresh produce. More than one-third of the product distributed is refrigerated, which helps food pantries and other hunger-relief agencies provide over 5.6 million pounds of fresh, healthy food items like produce, meats and dairy to their clients every year.

Ozarks Food Harvest continues its efforts to fight hunger in southwest Missouri by growing its many critical programs and is committed to its mission of Transforming Hunger into Hope.

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Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes more than 13.6 million meals annually to 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.